(10/03) Overall, health insurance premiums jumped 14 percent this year, the third double-digit increase in a row. It’s expected to grow the same rate next year. Today, a family can expect to spend about $10,000 for coverage.Many of the expenses of health care are due to preventable diseases and the leading cause of these is obesity. According to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, our country is facing an epidemic of obesity. Recent estimates indicate 129 million of adult Americans are overweight or obese and of the 39 million who are obese, seven in ten don’t get enough exercise.
Obesity leads to heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Various studies show how these illnesses have affected health costs:
- Obesity took more than 300,000 lives and cost $117 billion in health related expenses.
- An estimated 17 million people (6.2 percent of the population) had diabetes, costing the U.S. approximately $132 billion.
The impact to our children is also very troublesome. About 11 percent of our kids are obese and that number is growing. Habits these kids develop while young continue through adulthood.
- Hearth disease and stroke are the first and third leading cause of death in the United States. In 2003, 1.1 million Americans are expected to have a heart attack. Cardiovascular diseases cost us more than $300 billion each year.
President Bush plans to budget $31 billion for prevention initiatives and research over the next two years. However, don’t expect government to remedy the situation. The only way Americans will become healthier is for each of us to be responsible for what we eat and how we exercise.
My wife often talks about eating plenty of fruits and vegetables daily. Alcohol should be used in moderation and if you smoke, quit. Avoid fast-food restaurants and junk foods often found within an arms reach in schools, workplaces and even in our hospitals.
We don’t have to exercise with weights or work up a big sweat in a gym to derive the benefits of modest exercise. Taking a long walk daily is great. Using steps instead of an elevator is beneficial.
We’re fortunate in Vermont to have so many recreational activities for all ages. Whether it’s skiing, biking or walking, there’s something for everyone. Good health is often just a walk away.
We must get into the prevention habit for it’s the key to good health. A consistent change to our lifestyle is required. Improvement in diet and physical activity will make us healthier and help curb increases in our health costs. The alternative shouldn’t be acceptable to us.
Thank you for your calls and notes. I can be reached at 658-3975 (home), 1-800-322-5616 or 228-2228 (State House) and via e-mail.
Rep. Frank Mazur
South Burlington